What gives you purpose in life? How does God become a real part of your life? What is it that you were really created to do?

Those are really deep questions, ones that many spend their whole life searching the answers for. I often have struggled with finding those answers. Have you? I absolutely know what that's like. But praise God, I have found the answer at last and I am no longer desperately searching.

Let me tell you of an experience I once had. I was having a very hard day. Everything seemed to be going wrong, it seemed I was doing ecerything wrong, and I felt discouraged to the point of angry tears. You know that feeling when you're working inside, and you've got a million screaming thoughts (not happy thoughts!) that are driving your mind insane, and it's all you can do not to just start crying (or whatever you do to vent your frustration) ? That's what I was going through. I don't know how it started, but it was NOT fun.

So I did the only thing that is able to calm me down - I decided to run outside into the woods and spend some time talking to God. I went down a long curved trail in the woods. All the way, I cried and told God everything I was feeling. It did not take long to calm down - when I am in God's presence, suddenly everything seems peaceful.

God walked beside me, holding my hand, and told me He loved me. He said everything was going to be okay. He said that He was able to, and very much wanted to forgive me. He invited me to come and just sit down on His lap and rest. Just let everything fade away and rest in His presence, knowing that He loved me and forgave me.

Wow, I was so at peace. I felt a joy I sure had not felt for a long time. Now I was beginning to cry again. Not in sadness. But in a relieved way, like a child who was lost in the dark forest and when finally she's found, she just cries and cries in his mother's lap. I cried because this peace was just so overwhelming. Finally I didn't need to worry anymore. Everything was going to be okay. God wasn't mad at me, I had found out. Not only that, but also God actually forgave me! And willingly! I realized I could forgive myself too, and go on with life as a joyful person.

I did go back home as a joyful person. The first thing I did was go to the computer and write a LONG poem, which actually was a conversation between me and God. This poem is entitled "Father and Child," and can be found on the FaithWriters website http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=32356.

This is what I'm getting at. Resting in God's presence is perhaps the most important thing you can do as a Christian. It is in His presence that we find rest, joy, and peace. Finding out that this is something that God wants of me and something that actually in reality can be done has changed my life forever. I am a different person because of it. Without this very intimate relationship with God - I would have given up on life a long time ago. It amazes me every time I think about it.

God really is here for you. He LONGS with all His heart for you to come to Him and just give your burdens to Him. He wants you to just rest in His arms. You can do this anytime, anywhere. You will be amazed. I'm talking with experience. I've been there and done that. God is the answer. I've tried Him. He's proven faithful every single time. I'm not planning on ever trying something else. God is my everything now. I invite you to try God. Go to Him and rest. He says, "Come to Me, my dear child. You have so many burdens and worries, just come to Me, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) He's waiting for you.

Crystal Dueck
January 28, 2007

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How I needed that reminder of my own walk to a quiet place under the trees when I was sorely bent with burdens. How faithful was our Heavenly Father to show up and lift my head! He is always faithful to be the "Lifter of Our Heads"! Beautifully written, Sister.